Kingston state trooper indicted in crash that killed mother, daughter

A Plymouth County grand jury has indicted state trooper John Basler, 25, for vehicular homicide while driving drunk in connection with a crash in September that killed a Carver woman and her daughter, Wicked Local reported Wednesday.

The fatal accident occurred at about 12:30 a.m. on Federal Furnace Road in West Plymouth.

Susan Macchi, 64, was pronounced dead at the scene. Juliet Macchi, 23, died later at Jordan Hospital.

The Maachis were headed home to Carver from a baseball game. Basler was returning home from a housewarming party in Wareham.

Basler was off duty and driving his own Toyota Corolla. Police said his blood alcohol level was twice the legal limit.

He pleaded innocent at his arraignment in Plymouth District Court in September.

Basler is charged with two counts each of vehicular homicide and vehicular homicide while driving drunk. He is also charged with drunken driving, reckless and negligent driving and carrying a gun while drunk.

He will be arraigned in Brockton Superior Court at a date to be determined later.

Basler was suspended without pay after the crash.

"First and foremost tonight, our thoughts are of Susan and Juliet Macchi as well as with their family and friends who mourn them. We are cognizant of their tremendous loss," Massachusetts State Police Colonel Timothy Alben said in a statement. "Today's indictments are the result of a comprehensive investigation by the Plymouth Police Department, the Office of Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz, and our State Police Collision Reconstruction and Analysis Section and the Plymouth County State Police Detective Unit, all of whom were dedicated to following the evidence wherever it led.

Alben said Basler remains suspended without pay, and his status after that will be evaluated after his trial has ended.

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